Nigerian Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development Festus Keyamo has announced that all ongoing plans for The national airline of Nigeria (Nigeria Air) operations and airport concessions have been temporarily suspended.
Keyamo revealed this during an inspection tour of the facilities at Lagos airport on Thursday, according to a statement issued on Friday by the ministry’s Head of Public Affairs, Odutayo Oluseyi.
“Regarding the concession of the airports and the air project in Nigeria, the minister said that everything will be suspended until he informs the president about his conclusions,” the statement said.
Keyamo said that while he is willing to protect local airlines, he hopes they will be more efficient and effective, noting that issues of flight cancellations and delays will be examined and laws enforced where necessary.
The Minister further ordered the owners to remove the unserviceable aircraft.
The decision to suspend Nigeria’s planned air operations and airport concessions came less than two weeks after Keyamo was sworn in as Aviation Minister and less than four months after his predecessor, Hadi Sirika, unveiled the controversial airline in May.
Background
After several failed promises, Sirika launched Nigeria’s national carrier, Nigeria Air, less than three days before leaving office.
The development further raised concerns among Nigerians, with many taking to social media to question Sirika’s move and handling of the airline’s proposed operation. Subsequently, the Aviation Committee of the House of Representatives called for the suspension of the creation of Nigeria Air and the prosecution of those involved in the inauguration of the national airline, describing the exercise as “fraud”.
Similarly, less than two weeks before the end of the term of former President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) approved the concession of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport (NAIA), Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA). , Kano, to the American Airport Corporation Consortium.
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This was criticized by the Nigerian Senate in July during the plenary session chaired by Senate Vice President Barau Jibrin. Under the concession agreement, the Airport Consortium of America Corporation will make an initial payment of $7 million to operate Abuja airport for 20 years and $1.5 million for Kano airport for 30 years.
Total concession revenue from the two airports during the period is estimated at more than $4 billion.
Optimization of the income capacity of FAAN
According to the statement, Keyamo said the government plans to optimize the generation capacity of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
“60% of FAAN’s revenue comes from Lagos and as such the new terminal should be used optimally,” the statement said.
The minister explained that the new airport terminal has 60 check-in points and can accommodate a lot of traffic.
He said the old terminal should undergo a complete overhaul, noting that the central refrigeration system is not working and many deteriorations need to be repaired.
According to the statement, Keyamo ordered all airlines in the old terminal to move their check-in counters to the new terminal within three months.
“To make room for the expansion of the new terminal to accommodate larger aircraft, Keyamo said it will discuss with private hangar owners within the space a possible relocation of their hangars,” the statement said.